On the 22nd (local time), U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, who has advocated for ‘adjusting the role of U.S. forces in Korea,’ as Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, who plays a key role in developing U.S. defense strategy policy. President-elect Trump said of Colby’s nomination that day, “He is a highly respected figure who advocates an America-first foreign and defense policy,” and added, “I will work closely with Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth to restore our military capabilities.”
Colby, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development during the first Trump administration, is evaluated as a ‘hardliner against China.’ In particular, US forces stationed in Korea have focused on deterring China and have expressed the position that Korea should take responsibility for its own defense. Accordingly, there are observations that the U.S. may put pressure on Korea by actively adjusting the size and role of the U.S. military in Korea.
However, it is known that the Korean government, which is in a virtual ‘leadership vacuum’ due to martial law and impeachment, is not yet able to properly communicate with President-elect Trump. If the second Trump administration takes office on January 20th next year and begins to increase defense spending and redeploy US troops stationed in Korea, concerns are growing that Korea could be caught off guard.
Meanwhile, the Korean government has not yet received an invitation from President-elect Trump to the presidential inauguration ceremony to be held on January 20th next year, but some domestic business figures have reportedly received invitations. On the 23rd, the Korea Economic Association announced, “Korea Economic Cooperation Chairman Ryu Jin has been invited to President-elect Trump’s inauguration ceremony, and is considering whether to attend.” According to the business world, it was confirmed that James Kim, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, was also invited to the inauguration ceremony. SM Group Chairman Woo Oh-hyun, who has been serving as an advisor to the Korea-US Alliance Friendship Association and the Korea-US Alliance Foundation, was also recommended to attend the inauguration ceremony.
● Colby emphasizes the need for relocation of US troops in Korea
The Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, to be appointed by Colby, is ranked 3rd or 4th in the hierarchy of the Ministry of Defense and is involved in not only the overall structure of the U.S. military, but also the establishment of specific strategies for overseas deployment and defense posture.
In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) in March this year, he said, “US troops stationed in Korea should focus on defending Korea from China.” At an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation in July, he also said, “The Joe Biden government is deploying the military widely throughout the world, but it must have power at critical moments to counter China.” He is also known to have taken the position that there is a need to revise the current ROK-U.S. operational plan, which calls for the U.S. to increase troops in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.
Nominee Colby also repeatedly expressed the recognition that as the United States’ military capabilities are limited, allies such as Korea should take more responsibility. It is highly likely that Korea will push for renegotiation of the Special Agreement on Defense Cost Sharing (SMA), which was agreed upon with the Biden administration in October, and insist on an increase in Korea’s defense cost sharing.
However, nominee Colby stated several times that “Korea’s own nuclear armament must also be considered.” The view is that South Korea should take more responsibility for its own defense against China as well as North Korea, and to this end, nuclear armament of South Korea could also be considered.
● Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs on a visit to the US: “I have no plans to meet with Trump.”
President-elect Trump’s previously appointed top diplomat and security official also mentioned the possibility of redeploying U.S. troops in Korea. Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio said that in 2020, “we will see a review of U.S. forces stationed in Korea and Western Europe.” White House National Security Advisor nominee Michael Waltz also said in 2018, “The withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea could lead North Korea to move toward denuclearization.”
Although the foreign affairs and security staff of Trump’s second administration are filled with ultra-hardline ‘America First’ figures, it has been reported that the Korean government has not yet secured a proper line of communication with President-elect Trump.
First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun, who visited the United States on the 22nd, met with reporters at Dulles International Airport near Washington and said, “I gave an appropriate explanation to President-elect Trump (about the domestic situation, including impeachment),” and added, “I plan to meet with people from President-elect Trump’s side during this visit.” “There isn’t one yet,” he said.
Washington = Correspondent Shin Jin-woo [email protected]
Reporter Kim Bora [email protected]
Reporter Kwak Do-young [email protected]
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